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Surcouf
Free French Cruiser Submarine
The French croiseur sous-marin (cruiser submarine) FS Surcouf (NN-3), served in both the French Navy and the Free French Naval Forces during the Second World War.
The Surcouf was named after Robert Surcouf, who had been a French privateer. At the time of her launch in 1929, she was the world's largest pre-Second World War submarine, 361 feet long, and weighed 3,304 tons. She was powered by a pair of 3800-hp Sulze diesel engines and two electric motors and had a range of 10,000 miles at 10 knots. She could reach as surface speed of 18 knots, 8.5 knots submerged.
At 10.30pm on 18 February 1942, the Surcouf was lost with all hands in the Caribbean Sea. An official joint U.S. and Free French report stated that she left Bermuda on 12 February and was accidentally rammed and sunk by the American freighter Thompson Lykes off the north coast of Panama near the Panama Canal. The report states that the accident was due to both vessels running at night without lights because of the menace of German U-boats.
It is possible the collision had damaged Surcouf 's radio and the stricken boat limped towards Panama hoping for the best. The records of the USAAF 6th Heavy Bomber Group operating out of Panama show them sinking a large submarine northeast of Columbus on the morning of 19 February 1941. Two Northrup A-17 and one Douglas B-18 Bolo aircraft were involved, dropping eight bombs on the vessel. Since no German submarine was lost in the area on that date, it could have been Surcouf. A later French investigation commission stated that the Surcouf had been sunk by US planes in the morning of the 18th in a "friendly fire" accident in the same area. (Source: Silverhawkauthor)
Photos and Documents
The photos on this page are from various collections of sailors of the RCN during the Second World War
(RAS083) "What am I looking at?" Seen from HMCS QUINTE - The first ship is a Town Class destroyer; then vessel with 17P is the French Submarine Surcouf; followed by the funnel of an unknown ship; and finally what appears to be 3 more town class destroyers. Coder Somerville joined HMCS QUINTE 02 Jan 1942. As the Surcouf disappeared 18 Feb 1942, this photo was taken shortly before her loss.
From the collection of Ross Somerville, Leading Coder, RCNVR
(GB58) HMS THUNDERBOLT and the worlds largest submarine, the Free French Submarine "SURCOUF", Halifax, 1941. THUNDERBOLT was originally named HMS THETIS. The THETIS sank 01 Jun 1939 during trials in Liverpool Bay, England. She was salvaged, repaired and renamed "THUNDERBOLT"
From the collection of George Bennett, Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Engineering Mechanic, RCN(R)
(BL120) HMS MONTGOMERY G95 and the Free French submarine SURCOUF at Halifax
From the collection of Bernard Lake, Commander (Instructor), RCN
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